Laser billiard ball positioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

The laser billiard ball positioning apparatus is an invention that provides continuous real time visual positioning feedback to assist in properly positioning a billiard ball. The laser billiard ball positioning apparatus provides positioning information without causing any interference with the rolling trajectory of a billiard ball. The laser billiard ball positioning apparatus further provides for a positioning target that is never covered up by a billiard ball. The laser billiard ball positioning apparatus is primarily intended for use by billiard players in properly positioning billiard balls prior to the initiation of a game of billiards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to laser billiard ball positioning and alignment devices. The invention in particular is useful in positioning a billiard ball without the assistance of a patch or target being physically located on the billiard table playing surface.

[0002] It is common practice when playing the game of billiards or pool or the like to first position the non-cue balls. Such positioning is typically performed by placing the non-cue balls in a triangular shaped rack which is moveably located on a billiard table or the like playing surface. The lead ball, often the number “1” ball, is then moved such that the lead ball is positioned immediately over a patch type target. Once positioned, a game of billiards or the like is ready to be initiated. It is common for the lead ball target to consist of a colored circular patch affixed to the target location of the billiard table or like playing surface. A problem with such a target patch is that during play of a billiard or like game, due to the thickness of the target patch which causes the target patch to extend above the playing surface, if a billiard or like ball rolls over such target patch, the target patch can and often does alter the trajectory the billiard or like ball would otherwise travel. Yet a further problem with the conventional target patch is that if the lead ball is positioned on or near the target patch, then the target patch is covered by one or more of the billiard or like balls and the rack.

[0003] It is well known that laser indicators or “pointers” have existed for some time and have enjoyed substantial use in a variety of applications. Specifically, with regards to the game of billiards and pool, a laser light emitting device has been mounted to a billiard cue stick to assist the user of the cue stick in aligning the billiard cue stick. See for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,155,929 and 5,554,075. Furthermore, the use of laser light in combination with a complex system of mirrors and computer processing to assist in the rating of shots and the display of optimal paths is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,676. Additionally, the use of a simple laser emitting device to provide real time continuous positioning feedback has been used to position things such as a vehicle in a garage. See for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,218,962 and 6,154,150. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,218,962, 6,155,929, 6,154,150, 5,554,075 and 4,882,676 are incorporated herein by reference and form a portion of this specification.

[0004] However, none of the prior art has taught a simple real time continuous feedback laser assisted lead ball positioning device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a billiard ball or like locating apparatus having a light emitting device that emits a light beam of a predetermined pattern on a predetermined location of a billiard table or like surface. The invention further includes at least one billiard or like ball that is positionable so as to be able to be positioned at the predetermined position of the billiard table or like surface. In practice, when the ball is so positioned, the predetermined light pattern is displayed on the surface of the ball, indicating that the ball is properly positioned. Such positioning is performed without the assistance of a physical target such as a patch being located on the playing surface.

[0006] The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a laser light emitting device, a billiard or like table having a playing surface, and at least one billiard or like ball. While a light other than a laser light may be used in the invention, a laser light is preferred due to the reduced scatter of the laser beam. The laser light emitting device includes a lens which causes the projected laser light pattern to form a pattern of a cross or “cross hairs”. Other patterns such as concentric circles with a center dot may also be used. The length of each of the two cross hairs are preferably substantially equal to the diameter of the billiard or like ball such that when the entire length of each cross hair is projected on the billiard or like ball, such projection indicates that the billiard or like ball is properly positioned.

[0007] The laser light emitting device further includes a suction cup or like suitable member so as to enable mounting of the light emitting device in a position above the table playing surface such as by mounting the light emitting device to a ceiling by pressing the suction cup member to the ceiling. The laser light emitting device is preferably battery powered and includes an on/off switch. However, the light emitting device may alternatively be adapted to receive electrical power from a standard wall power outlet and the light emitting device may have a remote control device to selectively turn the light emitting device on and off.

[0008] In practice, the light emitting device is mounted to the ceiling by pressing the suction cup member against the ceiling such that the light emitting device becomes mounted to a ceiling above a billiard table playing surface. The location on the ceiling to which the light emitting device is mounted is selected such that when the light pattern from the light emitting device is focused on the playing surface, the light pattern is at the location on the playing surface where the lead billiard ball is to be positioned. Billiard balls are then placed in a billiard ball positioning rack on the billiard table playing surface. With the positioning rack in place around the billiard balls, the billiard balls are then rolled on the playing surface into proper position. Thus when the cross hairs of the laser light emitting device are projected substantially completely on the lead billiard ball surface, it is readily understood by the user that the lead billiard ball is positioned correctly. Alternatively, when the cross hairs of the laser light emitting device are not projected substantially completely on the lead billiard ball surface, it is readily understood by the user that the lead billiard ball is not positioned correctly.

[0009] Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple positioning assistance device that provides real time continuous position feedback information. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a positioning device having a target pattern that is never covered by a billiard ball or like object that is to be positioned. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a positioning device that does not interfere with the trajectory of a billiard or like ball.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] The objects and many attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated and become readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the billiard ball positioning apparatus. The front portion of the billiard table and the table legs are not shown.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a close up plan view of the view of the billiard ball positioning apparatus taken at the location indicated by view indication arrows 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The laser light emitting device and the majority of the billiard table are not shown. The lead billiard ball is shown positioned correctly.

[0013]FIG. 3 is substantially identical to FIG. 2 except that FIG. 3 displays the lead billiard ball positioned incorrectly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature list is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. FEATURE TABLE Number Feature 10 Positioning apparatus in general 20 Laser light emitting device in general 22 Laser light emitting device suction cup 24 Laser light emitting device lens 26 Laser light beam 27 Laser light target pattern 28 Laser light target pattern cross hair 29 Laser light emitting device on/off switch 30 Billiard table in general 32 Billiard table playing surface 34 Billiard table pocket 40 Billiard ball positioning rack 42 Billiard balls in general 44 Lead billiard ball 50 View break line

[0015] Referring now to the drawings, the invention is a positioning apparatus 10 that comprises a laser light emitting device 20, a billiard table 30, a billiard ball positioning rack 40, and billiard balls 42. Laser light emitting device 20 includes a suction cup 22, a lens 24, a laser light beam 26, a laser light target pattern 27, laser light target patterns cross hairs 28, and an on/off switch 29. Billiard table 30 includes a playing surface 32 and pockets 34. Billiard balls 42 include a lead billiard ball 44.

[0016] When laser light emitting device 20 is mounted above table 30 by pressing suction cup 22 against a ceiling or like structure and switch 29 is placed in the “on” position, laser light beam 26 is projected through lens 24 and onto playing surface 32 such that laser target pattern 27 is displayed on surface 32. When mounted, laser light emitting device 20 is mounted such that target pattern 27 appears at a predetermined location on playing surface 32 where the user would like to position lead billiard ball 44. With target pattern 27 displayed at the predetermined location, billiard balls 42 are loaded into positioning rack 40 on playing surface 32. Positioning rack 40 is then rolled on playing surface 32 until cross hairs 28 of target pattern 27 substantially completely cover lead ball 44. The complete covering of lead ball 44 by cross hairs 28 defines a ready means of indicating correct positioning of lead billiard ball 44.

[0017] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. The subject invention is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A positioning apparatus comprising a light emitting device, a playing surface, and at least one ball, wherein said light emitting device emits a light beam of a predetermined shape onto said playing surface and wherein when said ball is rolled on said playing surface to a position such that said light beam causes a predetermined target light pattern to shine on said ball, said ball is properly positioned.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light emitting device defines a laser light emitting device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined light pattern defines a cross pattern.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cross pattern comprises a plurality of cross hairs and wherein the length of each of said cross hairs is substantially equal to the diameter of said at least one ball.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said playing surface defines the playing surface of a billiard table.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one ball defines at least one billiard ball.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wherein said light emitting device defines a laser light emitting device and wherein said playing surface defines a billiard table playing surface and wherein said at least one ball defines at least one billiard ball.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said predetermined target light pattern defines a cross hair pattern having a plurality of cross hairs.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the length of each of said cross hairs is substantially equal to the diameter of said at least one billiard ball.
 10. The process of positioning a ball comprising the steps of projecting a light beam of a predetermined shape onto a playing surface, placing at least one ball onto said playing surface, and rolling said at least one ball on said playing surface into the path of said light beam until a light pattern is projected onto said ball indicating said ball is properly positioned.
 11. The process of claim 10 wherein said light beam defines a laser light beam.
 12. The process of claim 10 wherein said light pattern defines a cross pattern.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein said cross pattern comprises a plurality of cross hairs and wherein the length of each of said cross hairs is substantially equal to the diameter of said at least one ball
 14. The process of claim 10 wherein said playing surface defines the playing surface of a billiard table.
 15. The process of claim 10 wherein said at least one ball defines at least one billiard ball.
 16. The process of claim 10 wherein said wherein said light beam defines a laser light beam and wherein said playing surface defines a billiard table playing surface and wherein said at least one ball defines at least one billiard ball.
 17. The process of claim 16 wherein said light pattern defines a cross hair pattern having a plurality of cross hairs.
 18. The process of claim 17 wherein the length of each of said cross hairs is substantially equal to the diameter of said at least one billiard ball. 